Fluid control



Nov. 12, 1935. c. L. WARNER v FLUID CONTROL Filed July 9, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 1 1935- c. WARNER 2,020,710

FLUID CONTROL Filed July 9, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet? C. L. WARNER FLUIDCONTROL Nov. 12, 1935.

/0 W 7 N T IIL 5 m Z W M M k 4 26 6 0 L m w, 6 5 MM I L Patented Nov.1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,020,110

From con'rnon charm 1.. Warner, mum, Com, assignor to Baird Warner,Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn,

: a corporation of Connecticut Application July 9, 1931, Serial No.549,670

8Claims.

the fluid, which is simple in construction and not.

easily gotten out of order.

' It is also an object of. the invention to pro-* vide a control inwhich there is an electrically i operated locking means for the mainfluid valve whichvwill hold this valve in open position afterit isoperated {to this position by electrically operated means, which lockingmeans requires less current than the operating means for the valve,

- and therefore there is a great saving in current consumption over whatwould be required it the main valve operating means were relied on tohold the valve in open positionduring operation of the burner or otherdevice using the fluid.

Q Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction'and arrangement of:

the control valves and operating means therefor whereby the enclosingcasing may be die-cast, thus greatly reducingthe machining operationsrequired and also making allparts easily accessible for assembling,renewalJnspection or repair.

A further object is toprovide an improved construction and arrangementof the control device in which the liquid fuel flows always in an up- 36ward direction from the point of entrance through the control device toits point of exit to the burner so as to eliminate possibility of theformation of a gas'po'cket which would cut on the flow of fuel andrender the device inoperative.

llturther objects will become apparent from a detailed description 0!the invention taken in connection with thehccompanying drawings frominga part of this specification. In these drawinss: 1 Fig. i is a verticalsection through the device;

Pig. 2 is a vertical detailed section ot the safety cut-oat! valve takensubstantially on line 2-2 of I18. I orig.tisapartialtoppianviewandapartial 4; horizontal section; v

4 is a top plan view with the upper section 0! the casing removed;

131g. 5 is a detailed vertical section showing the control valve in openposition; to Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the valve locking meansia'nd,1

Pig-7 is a wiring diagram showing the relation of the control to thevarious thermostatic elements. 9 515 The improved control is located atone side 0! the burner indicated at It which may be any suitable type ofburner, but is indicated as or the type where an upright electric motorrotates an oil distributing-head H to throw the oil lat,-

.erally in a continuous circular fllm so that it "5 burns as an annularflame within the usual fire-- box such for example as that shown in myprior application for Oil burner, Serial'Number 505,093, filed December27, 1930. The various valves and operating means for these valves ofthis control Iii" device are enclosed in a body 0 casing indicated as awhole at I2 and compris ng an upper section It, a lower section It and acover section It, all of which due to my improved arrangement oi thevalves and associated elements can be made of die-castings so that themachining operations required in the manufacture of this control unitare reduced to a minimum. The two sections l3 and It oi. the body orcasing are separated a'tthe point' l8, and they are detachably connectedtogetherby any suitable means such as the screws l I passing through'theflange I8 .011 the section it and threaded into the flange i 9 on thesection it.

The lower section ll of the body is provided with a small chamber 20to-which theinlet or fuel supply pipe 2| leads from any suitable storagetank (not shown) for the liquid fuel. In this chamber 20 are mounted anydesired number of screens 22 to catch particles of dirt which may passin with the oil. Above these screens is the main control valve 23. Thisvalve includes a valve lever support" seated in the top of the chamberIll and supported on the bottom wall of the chamber 2.5 by a flange 26through which extend securing screws. This member 24 has an openvingtherethrough' ior the valve plug it having a longitudinal'passage 29 forthe flow of oil, and 'this plug has a seat at its upper end on which mayclose the valve element U 01 any suitable material,.preterably of avulcanized somewhat resilient rubber. This element 30 is mounted in amovable plunger 3| guided for vertical move.- ment by the uprightguiding means 32 carried by the member 24,- and lateral openings 33permit flow of oil from the passage 29 into the chamber 25 when thevalve30 is raised irom its seat.

This valve is operated by a valve lever .34 pivoted at 3! to therprights 32, and it has a slot 3 to receive an operating pin 11 carriedby the valve plunger 3l. At its oppositeend the'le'ver 34 is-forked at38 to receive a pin a on a rod it connected to solenoid armature andweight 4!, this armature beingmounted in the main solenoid coil i2 andcapable of sliding vertically in enclosing tube 43 passing.

ture under the action ofethe solenoid coil 42.

The limitof the upper movement of the armature weight I may be adjustedby using stop plugs 46 of different lengths. The solenoid coil 42 is inthe chamber 41 under the wall 44 which chamber opens at its lower endthrough the-lower wall of I section It and is closed'by the coversection 48 detachably secured to the section I of the body. This coversection has a chamber 49' to enclose the lower end of the tube 43 andalso carries spring 50 engaging at its upper end under a'plate ii forsupporting the solenoid'coil. v Also mounted in the chamber 41 is asmaller or lock operating solenoid coil 52 supported similarly to thesolenoid coil 42 and embracing the guide tube 53 for lock operatingarmature weight M. The tube 53 extends through the wall 44 of the bodyto seal the chamber 41 from the chamber 25, but is open at its upp r endfor the passage of the operating rod 55 which has an eye I56 throughwhich extends a rod 51 forming a lever arm connected to a catch I8 thatcooperates with a locking lever 59 pivoted at III on the upright arm 61preferably formed as an integral part of the wall 44. The catch 58 issubstantially semicircular. and is carried by a stud 82 pivoted in thearm 6|, the arm 51 passing throughthis stud and adjustably securedtherein by a set screw 83. The lever. is also pivotally mounted in thisarm 1| by the stud so. Thislever has an arm 64:

and a shorter arm "below it between which is a notch or recess 66. Thearm 65 has on its lower edge a curved surface 81 struck from the; centerof the stud 60 leaving a shoulder 88 to engage one edge of the latch 58to limit downwardmoveme'nt of the lever. 58 and providing a shoulder 69at its other end to engage the latch 58 and hold the lever 59 in itselevated position as shown in Fig. 5

. for a purpose which will later be described. The

\ valve operating lever 34 has a laterally extending stud 10 adapted toseatin the recess 66 as shown in Fig. 5 was to holdthe lever II elevatedand the valve 30 open.

After these variousclements are assembled as shown the upper section "ofthe body may be .pla'cedthereon as indicated in Fig.1 completing thechamber 25 enclosing the operating elements iustde'scribed. This uppersection it carries a needle control valve H for controlling the rate offeedof fuel to the burner, and also a safety shut off valve 12 forcompletely cutting oi! the fuel should the-bumer go out or not light andthe fuel should flow out the burner into a drip pan 13. The needlecontrol valve Il controlsla' passage u and lateral V-shaped e n leadingfrom a small chamber 16 communicating with the upper part of the chamber2!. and if desired a screen ll may be provided at the lower part of thischamber. The passage 15 is V-shaped so that it tapers from the inlet endIIa to outlet end lib so as to-give a fine adjustment to the fluidcontrol and also so that if dirt were carried in with the fluid it wouldnot lodgein the passage but would be carried through.- The fuel flowsfrom the passage 15 to the lateral passage 18 leading to the safety shutoff valve 12; and the chamber 19 from which enethe passage so leads tothe flexible conduit 8i connected by a detachable coupling 81 to theconduit 83 leading" to the burner il.

The valve II and its adjusting means is mounted in the longitudinalchamber II in the top of 5 the body section l3, and comprises a head OIsoldered to'one end of the flexible bellows tube OI, the other end ofwhich is soldered to a packing ring 81a clamped over the outer end ofthe chamber M by a cap 01 which is secured by any 10 suitablegneans suchas screws II. The head II is threaded to an adjustingscrew II by a lefthand thread N, and this screw II is also threaded by a right hand threadI to the head 81. The flexible bellows" forms a seal to prevent leak- 15age of oil, and by turning screw ll by any suitable means such as asocket wrench receiving the square head 8!; the head II .and valve llmay be adjusted to control the rate of feed of fuel to the passage ll.It will be noted the outer 20 open end of the chamber II is as large asthe inner portion of the chamber and therefore the plunger for formingthis chamber in the diecasting operation can be readily withdrawn fromthe casting. 25 The same is true of the chamber I. as indi- I cated inFig. 2, and the valve head I! is soldered to a flexible bellows tube OIwhich is soldercdto the packing plate 04 clamped between the cap 95 andthe face of the body by any suitable'means such as the screws 98.The-bellows It therefore seals this valve also and permits movement ofthe valve '12 to andfrom the seat surroundingthe passage ll. It ispreferred to mount a hall '1 in the end of the head I! to engage thisseat. The 86 valve stem as is threaded by a right hand thread 99' to thehead 12 and by a left hand thread II. to cap 95. Therefore, by rotatingthe stem 'II the valve 91 will be moved toward aid from the seat. Alever Iii carrying an operating weight (notso shown) is secured to thevalve stem ll and operates to turn the stem ll to close the valve l1 andshut off flow of fuel to the burner should the burner go out or for anyother reason oil should flow from theburner into the safety drip pan I8.0

Oil getting into this pan weights it and causes it to drop down andrelease the catch device [02,

I03 all as clearly disclosed in my prior applica- 1:22:16 Serial Number504,734, flied December 26,

1 i 50 It will be noted all the chambers II, It, II

and 84 are of substantially tfiasame sisethrou'ghout or slightly taperedso the plungers or other .parts of the mold or dies forming them andbody section I: can be readily withdrawn. in the at lower body sectionit the same is true of the lower part of chamber 2' and chambers II and:41; so thislsection H can be readily die-cast.

Section or cover ll can also be readily die-cast e I as chambers u and mare straight and of subto stantially uniform size throughout or slightlytapered so the die partswill draw properly. By so constructing andarranging the parts that the body can be die-cast the required machiningoperations are reduced to aminimum greatly re ducing cost of productionsQ Referringto the diagram of in. mum diagram indicates diagrammaticallythe various thermostats and electric switches for controlling this fuelcontrol device. At m is indicated thcjlo supply connectionto the housewiring system controlled by a main switoh'ill. ,The ariangement ofelements" enclosed in-the square I is called a control unit and includesa lock out I switch I". such'a's a mercury switch as shown 16 controlledby a thermal unit m. In series with the switch I" is the roomthermostatic switch III in series with a limit switch IIII controlled bymeans responsive to temperature or pressure conditions in theboiler orother heating device. The coil at the lower part of this figureindicated at 42 represents the large or main solenoid coil 42 of Fig. 1,while the coil 82 repfesents the small or auxiliary lock operatingsolenoid coil 52 of Fig. 1. The operating motor for the burner isindicated at III with a resistance H2 in series with it, andvtheignition device for the burner II is indicated at III. This may beeither a gas or an electrical ignition device, but is electricallycontrolled. At H4 is shown a switch operated by means which becomeseffective if or when the fuel is ignited at the burner, such for exampleas a thermostatic element in the stack or smoke flue leading from thefurnace, but it is to be distinctly understood that this is mentionedmerely as an example and any other means which becomes effective if thefuel becomes ignited can be used suchas locating the element in the fueldoor or fire box, or a light sensitive element etc. and the termstackswitch in the specification and claims is used in the generic sense tocover any such device, and includes two mercury switch elements II! andH6 which are operated together, but areso arranged that while the switchIII is closed as shown-the. switch II. is open and vice versa. Connectedto the switch element II! and supply lead I" is a thermostaticallyoperated oil delay switch II8 which it will be noted connects throughthe lead II! to the switch Iii and connected to lead III is a lead I20extending to the switch I2I. The lead Ill also connectsto anelectromagnetic holding coil I22 and the electromagnetic oper-' atingcoil I23. The thermal element H8 when heated operates to close theswitch contacts I 24, but as it requires a given time for element IIItc'heat up after the circuit through it is closed it will be evidentclosing of switch I24 is delayed accordingly.

The operation is as follows: The elements are shown-in their normalposition in Figs. 1 and 7 when the burner is not operating, but with ofcourse, the main electrical switch I05 normally closed. If now thetemperature of the room goes below a' certain point the room thermostatwill ,call for heat by closing the switch I09. Closing this switch Ienergizes the coil 52 (of course assuming that thetemperature of theboiler is such that the switch H0 is ,closed) for the locking device,and also energizes the burner motor III. Closing switch III! also causescurrent to pass through the thermostat coil N8 of the oil delay switchesthe switch H is closed. Energizing of the coil 52 will tend to lift thearmature as, but due to the fact that the latch is under the curved wall61 it. cannot move upwardly at this time. The thermal switch Iltisheated'by the current and after a predetermined time closes the contactsI24 and closes the circuit through the thermal element I08 of the switchI". The switch I01, is not however af fected until the thermal elementI08 is heated to a given temperature which requires a predetermined timedepending on the adjustment. Closing of the switch I24 also energizestheelectromagnetie coil I22 which kicks over the switch I2I to closedposition thus closing the circuit through'the large or main solenoidcoil 42 and the ignition mechanism'llt Energizing of the coil 42 raisesthe armature weight 4I which lifts the valve lever 24 and opens thevalve 8| to permit oil to flow from the inlet supply II to the chamber25 and through the needle valve II and the cut off valve 12 to theburner. This delay in the closing of switch I2l has permitted the 5 Iburner motor to come to full operating speed before the oil is tumedonand therefore this oil is thrown out in a fine spray and is ignited bythe igniting device Hi. In other words it provides a delayed oil feed somotor gets up to speed before fihy oil is supplied to the rotatingatomizing cup. Also the ignition comes on with the oil. v v

The burner is now lighted, and of course, the furnace begins to heat up,the valve lever 34 being a held in its upper position by the solenoidcoil 42 operating on the core or armature 4|. As the lever 34 movedupwardly thelug III carried by this lever engaged under the arm 64 ofthe latch the recess 68 as shown in Fig. 5. This movement of the lever59 carries the curved surface 6'! to the right of the catch 58 andpermits-the armature 54 in the smaller solenoid coil 52 to move upwardlyto the position of Fig. 5 as this coil 52 was energized when the roomthermostat switch was closed. This upward movement of the weight 54turns the catch 58 to the position in Fig. 5 with its right hand edgeengaging behind the shoulder 89 on the lever 59. As the burner is nowoperating the furnace begins to heat up and the heat going up the stackoperates the stack switch II4 to open the switch H5 and close the switchHi, This breaks the cir cult to the large solenoid coil 42 and also tothe ignition II3, but does not aifect the circuit through the burnermotor III" and the locking solenoid 52 which remains closed so that theburner continues to operate. It also breaks the circuit through the oildelay switch coil I I8 causing it to cool down and open the switch I24and the circuit through the heating element I04.

Still further as operation of, the stack switch closeslswitch H6 itenergizes electromagnet I22 the stack cooled. These features are notshown as they would tend to complicatelthe description and drawings anda showing thereof is not necessary as they form no part of my invention,It will be evident that as the large solenoid coil is now not energizedits core -4I would drop, and close the valve 30 unless it were heldinthe upper position. This is what the latch mechanism 53 does. As thesolenoid coil 52 is still energized its armature 54 is held in the upperposition of Fig. 5 which holds the catch 58 behind the shoulder 69 ofthe lever 59. This lever is therefore locked in the elevated position oiFig. 5, and-will hold the valve lever 34 and the solenoid weight 4Ielevated because the stud locarried by lever-34 rests on the lower wallof the notch 88. Thus the main valve 30 is held open so long as. thesmallsolenoid 52 is energized and the burner will continue to function.It will be evident that this eilects a great saving in the consumptionof electiic current while the burner continues to operate, because whilesolenoid coil 42 may requireg'g;

85 or 90 watts to operate it, the smaller coil I2 requires only about 5watts.

The burner continues to function until the room thermostat controllingthe switch I, or the boiler limit switch H is satisfled, .at which timeone of these switches isopened. It will be evident that opening ofeither one of these switches completely shuts ofl current from thecontrol unit, the locking solenoid I2 and the burner motor Ill. Theburner motor of course then stops and the-solenoid coil 52 beingdeenergized permits the weight 54 to drop swinging the catch 58downwardly away from the shoulder I! on the locking lever 5! andpermitting this lever to drop, which in turn permits the lever 34 andthe weight H to drop and close the valve 30, thus shutting ofl furtherflow of fuel to the, burner. As soon as the stack cools down switch Illswings back and the elements of the control unit I" automatically returnto the starting position.

After the circuit is closed by the room thermostat switch I89 and theoil delayswitch 8 has closed the contacts I, if for any reason theburner should not light, then of course, the stack switch i I would notbe operated, but would re-- main in the normal position of Fig. 7. Inthis event after agiven length of time the thermal element Ill wouldbecome sufliciently heated to open the lock out switch I 01 which wouldopen the electricalsupply circuit to the control device, and thereforethe flow of fuel would be shut off and motor stopped. If, however,. theburnerlights as it should then the stack thermostatic switch 1 wouldoperate before the thermal ele ment Ill had had time to heatsufliciently to 'open the lock out switch Ill and the burner wouldcontinue to operate as above described.

Leads from the various control switches may be led to the solenoids by acable. not shown, carrying the conductors and attached to a removableconnector plug adapted to be inserted in a socket I25 having the desiredcontacts not shown) connected with the solenoids and adapted to engagethe plugcontacts in the usual manner to provide an easily connected anddetachable connection, but of course, regular permanent l adconnections-may be used if preferred.

Although the device has been described as for controlling fuel oil to anoil burner it will be evident the device could also be used to controlthe flow. of gas to a gas burner, or a valve for controlling any fluidin any location desired.

'Ihe layout of Fig. I is shown merely as anexample to indicate a controlsystem which may be used with my improved fluid control, but I wish itto be distinctly understood that my device is not limited to use withthis arrangement but may be used with any system where there is meansfor energizing the main solenoid and auxiliary solenoid and then cutting01! 'current from the main solenoid so thevalve is held open by theauxiliary solenoid during use of the fluid. It is also to be understoodthat altho the system of Pig. 7 uses a delayed operation or opening ofthe main control valve this is not necessary and the device canbe usedequally well without the delayed'operation. I

- Having thus set forth the nature tion, what I claim is:

1'.'I n-a'fluid-eontrol, a control valve, a lever connected to saidvalve and provided with aprojection. a vertically movable armatureconnected to said lever, a solenoid capable when energised.clliftingssldsrmstm'eandlevertoopen' tbe of my invendie cast.

; ing through walls thereof, all said chambers being arranged so thatthe section may be die cast,

valve, a locking lever having an arm in the path of movement of saidprojection to be engaged by said projection to lift the looking I leverto holding position when the flrst lever is lifted and also having anotch in which said projection may rest to hold the valve lever inraised position, a latch for-holding the locking lever in raisedposition, and an auxiliary electrically operated means for shifting thelatch.

2. In' a fluid control, a body comprising a plurality of sectionsincluding a main section open at the top and an upper section closingthe open top of the main section, said main section including atransverse wall carrying a support, a control valve carried by said mainsection, a 16 lever connected to said valve, a latch means mounted onthe support for holding the valve in open position, said main'se'ctionbeing provided with a chamber within its walls in the lower part of thesection, solenoids in said chamber 20 for operating the valve and thelatch, and said chamber opening through the bottom of the section and atleast as large at its outer end as inwardly therefrom so that thesection can be 3. In a fluid control, a body including a main sectionand an upper section having cooperating walls forming a chamber, .avalve in the main section controlling flow of fluid to said chamber,means mounted in the main section for controlling said valve includingelectrical means for opening the ,valve, and electrically operated latchmeans for holding the valve open, said section having chambers for saidelectrical means opensaid upper section also having chambers open ingthrough thewalls thereof arranged so the section can be die cast, sineedle control valve located in one of said chambers, and a safetycutoff valve located in the other chamber. 4. In a fluid control, a controlvalve, an oper- I ating lever connected to said valve and provided witha projection,'a vertically movable armature connected to said lever, asolenoid capablewhen energized of lifting said armature and lever toopen the valve, a locking lever having an arm projecting laterally overthe path of movement of said projection whereby it will be engaged bysaid projection on its upward movement to lift said arm, a shorter armon the locking lever spaced below the flrst arm and mounted to move to aposition under the projection when the looking lever is raised andcapable of holding the operating lever 'in elevated position, a latchadapted to be shifted to engage the locking 1mito hold it inits'elevated position, and a solenoid for operating said latch. Y 5. Ina fluid control, a control valve, an operatinglever connected to saidvalve and provided with a projection, a vertically movable armatureconnected to said lever, asolenoid capable when energized of liftingsaid armature and lever to open the valve, a locking lever having an armprojecting laterally over the path of movement of said projectionwhereby itwill be engaged by said projection on its upward movement tolift said arm, a-shorter arm on the locking levei spaced belowthe flrstarm and mounted to move to a position under the projection when thelooking lever is raised and capable of holding the operating lever inelevated position, said locking lever beingprovided with a'shoulder, apivoted latchhavingastop andfrem the path of movement of said shoulderand capable when moved into the path of said shoulder to hold thelocking lever elevated, an arm connected to said latch'to rotate it, anarmature connected to the arm and normally holding the latch out ofholding position, and a solenoid tor shifting the armature to turn thelatch to holding position.

6. In a fluid control, a body having a chamher, a fluid inlet, to saidchamber, a valve controlling said inlet, a lever connected to said valvefor operating it, a latch means associated with said lever for holdingthe valve in open position, to said leirer to: operating. it, anarmature connected to the latch iorop'eratlngihsaid provided with achamber opening through its outer wall, tubular. elements connectedat-anopeh end to the v wall of the chamber and-closed at their otherends and embracing said armaturs, solenoids in said chamber embracingthetubular elements to operate the solenoids, a closure for the .open

side of said chamber, and springs heldagainst 1 the solenoids by saidclosure and mounting the solenoids in position.

- CHARLES L. WARNER,

